23 February 2017

From the Mayor's Desk

For the past month Council staff and Councillors have been out in the community meeting lots of local residents. It has been such a great opportunity for all of us to hear about the issues that concern you, the local residents. It has also allowed us to tell you about our Draft Hawkesbury Community Strategic Plan 2017–2036.

We have been meeting with residents in the communities at North Richmond, Windsor, Richmond, Pitt Town, Glossodia, Colo Heights, Kurrajong, Bligh Park. We’ve also had Listening Kiosks throughout the Hawkesbury at various shopping centres. The meetings have been very interactive and the Listening Kiosks have offered lots of opportunities for questions from our community both about local issues and about the Draft Hawkesbury Community Strategic Plan.

Our last town meeting to talk about the Plan and local issues will be held this Saturday, 25 February 2017 at 11am, St Albans School of Arts at 7 Upper MacDonald Road, St Albans. I hope to see lots of local residents attend - come along and have your say.

I will also be attending the Listening Kiosk this Saturday, 25 February 2017 at 9am, at North Richmond Shopping Centre, Bells Line of Rd, North Richmond. There will also be a Listening Kiosk at the shopping centre at King Road, Wilberforce. Bring your questions, we’ll see you there!

A free Jazz in the Park event organised by The Kurrajong Community Forum and sponsored by Hawkesbury City Council will be held at Memorial Park at Kurrajong from 5:30pm on Saturday, 25 February. So bring your friends, your picnic and blanket for a great time in Kurrajong. In the event of wet weather this event will be held in the school hall. The Steve Arie Trio will perform a wide selection of jazz and Latin standards, from artists including Louis Armstrong, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr, Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim. I’m looking forward to a great night.

Council is joining with Hawkesbury business groups to host a keynote talk and networking event called ‘The Better Business - Simple steps to get more from your work’ on Monday, 27 February from 6pm at Stockbar and Grill 78 March Street, Richmond.

Networking will commence at from 6pm and then Robert Gerrish, Director of Flying Solo, an online solo and micro business community, will give the keynote talk by from 6:30pm. I hope business people and interested community members can join us at this business friendly talk to hear Flying Solo’s inspirational tips and tricks. This event is as part of Back to Business Week, a NSW Government Business Connect Initiative. The keynote talk is proudly sponsored by What’s On Wrap by Hawkesbury business groups and Hawkesbury City Council. Flying Solo boasts a membership of around 100,000 Australian businesses visit the flying solo website

On Thursday, 2 March from 10am to midday, Council will host a great community celebration at McLeod Park. This free event will include a pop-up library, Council sponsored free sausage sizzle cooked by the Rotary Club of Windsor and a giant Connect-4 game for everyone to play. I hope plenty of local residents can come out to see the upgraded park and bring their families along to enjoy the fun.

This McLeod Park event is part of a series of Council events to be held during 2017 that aim to connect our community. For details on more upcoming events in the Hawkesbury please visit Hawkesbury Events Facebook.

Mayoral Column

On Sunday, 5 March I will be attending a special YMCA Swimathon and Family Fun Day at Oasis Aquatic and Leisure Centre, located at the corner of Church and Drummond Street, South Windsor.

Council is proud to announce that $760,000 in Council funded refurbishments are now complete and to celebrate we will host an official launch at 10:30am, 5 March, with a celebratory cake and free activities including face painting, a jumping castle, games and of course cooling off in the pool. I encourage everyone to come along.

Managed and operated by the YMCA for over ten years, upgrades include a brand new timber sprung floor and ceilings for the group fitness room, a new cold-filtered wheelchair compliant water dispenser, an overhaul of all amenities, new family change rooms with baby change tables and showers to ensure youth security, and new accessible amenities for people with disabilities that include LED sensor lighting. Other improvements include grassed areas, shade sails and an accessible path for visitors with a disability. One of the most extensive changes includes pool filter and heat pump upgrades for the outdoor pool.

So if you’re not a member of the Centre yet, come along and see the improved facilities and find out about the many benefits of membership. The YMCA Swimathon is an annual national fundraising event to raise money for swimming programs for people with disability, so come along and support the Swimathon too! Normal entry fees apply. Visit the YMCA swimathon website for more information.